Comic relief: Inaugural fair slated for Sunday

THE first Geelong Comic and Toy Fair is preparing to take Geelong West Town Hall by storm this Sunday, October 13, as demand grows for comic lovers and collectors to find events more suited to their passions.

Belmont resident Evin Bryant said an event he held in March dedicated solely to comics confirmed his suspicions there was an audience for a larger comic book and action figure fair.

“I moved into Geelong around 2019 and have been a comic book fan since the late ’80s, and since moving here I struggled to find my group, or my clique,” he said.

“My original plan was to form a regular comic book meet-up, which is when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, but after that I came up with creating a fair-like event.

“I’ve made a lot of close connections and friends through this hobby, so I wanted to explore the possibility of creating a community here in Geelong.

“That’s what this fair is all about and we have people coming from all over the state, as far as the other side of Melbourne.”

The fair will feature more than 30 vendors, including some local vendors, across 60 tables, with thousands of items up for sale, trading and collecting.

Mr Bryant said from next year, the fair would run on a biannual basis, but if the City of Greater Geelong directed any funding towards future events, it might become triannual.

He said the fair was also growing out of the Geelong West Town Hall, after a terrific turnout at the March event and a waitlist in place for Sunday’s fair.

While Mr Bryant is firmly committed to keeping the event going, he is also keeping an eye on potential long-term plans.

“Geelong Convention Centre in 2026; that’s the dream,” Mr Bryant said. “It’s a grassroots movement really and as long as there is a want and a following for this fair, it’ll keep growing.

“I do have a vision for something larger down the track, but I can’t think beyond the next event. It’s like footy, just need to take it one week at a time in a sense.”

The fair will run at Geelong West Town Hall, 153 Pakington Street from 10am to 4pm.

Attendees are asked to bring a gold coin for admission, to assist the unsponsored event with booking and operational fees.